Last December 1st, I held my first draw-a-thon. (You know what a marathon is, right? It’s just like that, except that you’re drawing.) It was at the Museo Pambata (Children’s Museum) of Manila, Philippines, for their Children’s Advocacy Program. I brought in DrawHappy as well as my other drawing project, Rorsketch (a visual perception project where you draw your interpretations of clouds). After showing them some current sketches and making them warm up their hands, we got to drawing.

Kids, I have to say, are not only talented and completely open to new experiences, but also insatiable when it comes to pouring their imaginations on paper. The terror of a blank canvas doesn’t apply much. Here are some of the sketches:

Kristina L. Araño
28 years old
Human Resource / Recruitment Specialist in an Engineering firm
Laguna, Philippines
About my drawing
What I was doing: I just finished doing interviews and was screening resumes when I remembered how cute my 6-year-old daughter was, when I saw her last night happily reviewing her lessons.
Where I was: I’m sitting on my cubicle at Human Resource Department a few minutes before coffee time
Alone or with company: I am just alone in my area, while most of my officemates attend to their business meetings / work activities

This drawing first appeared on page G4 of the Learning section of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

About my drawing
What I was doing: Just had a meeting. Had a minor boo-boo at work just now
Where I was: My desk at our office
Whom I was with: I’m alone in my thoughts but technically my office mates are at their respective areas

First published in The Philippine Daily Inquirer Learning Section, page H4, 30 July 2012.

Addendum! Happy birthday, Jessica, who turns 22 today (August 27th)! She sent us another sketch:

“I am happy when I…. (1) See new places, experience new cultures (2) Stay connected with family and friends (3) Window shop and shop during sale season (4) Watch(or cry because of) my favorite teleserye (5) Am anywhere there’s sun and sea (6) Make people well or feel protected when they are sick.”

Finishing graduate school and (temporarily) away from New York City, I’ve been unconsciously giving drawings of people as farewell and thank-you gifts. I thought it would make them happy, but on my end, drawing embeds them further into my memory.

I learned of your project from Brainpickings and thought that it would be interesting to ask my son (who loves to draw) what makes him happy.
He said, “Swimming makes me happy.”
And he drew himself on our vacation last summer, floating on the water with the fish and starfish we found incredibly so near the beach.

Flickr

Andressa Candido Schmitt 17 years old Architecture student Sinop- MT, Brazil “I made this drawing in my course in the begging of the year. I’m sharing the balons’ drawing here because two years ago I posted a drawing here and in this drawing I told some things I liked to do and that made me […]